Critics of Jehovah`s Witnesses/Dating a Jehovah's Witness

I'm a 28 year-old female, and was raised in a Baptist/Methodist family. We have rich traditions of celebrating birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day, etc.

Over 8 months ago, I started dating a wonderful man. He's 35 years old and was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. His family (parents, two brothers and their wives) are all active witnesses. We've gotten pretty serious, and I'm scared.

With the holiday season upon us, things have been interesting. He did join my family for Thanksgiving dinner and will join us for Christmas Dinner as well as opening gifts. He is more than willing to do this. In fact, he even arranged for us to take a helicopter ride to look at Christmas lights this weekend.

He doesn't knock on doors, go to Kingdom Hall or "preach" to me. Is he considered inactive? His family has been welcoming to me and our relationship. And, honestly, I've never been happier. Our relationship is amazing ... my family adores him, and we all just have the best time together.

What I'm scared about is having children. If we marry (he talks about us marrying often), I definitely want children. He knows I'll raise them celebrating holidays and birthdays, and if they need a blood transfusion, so be it! He says this is fine, but is it really? Are things likely to change?

I'm just very confused. I don't want to end the relationship. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Melissa

AnswerHi Melissa,

I so wish I could just say a few words and everything would be fine but I am afraid it is just not that easy. Let me just say right up front that you and your boyfriend do need to be on the same team in order to have a happy life together. If you are involved with a church, I would highly recommend you and your boyfriend to talk with your pastor about this.
Jehovah's witnesses have a belief system that is very much in contradiction with Biblical teaching and they very strongly believe that they are the only way to God. If your boyfriend continues in that religion, he will face pressure to conform to all of the watchtower rules. By celebrating the Christmas and Thanksgiving he can be disfellowshipped for that. If his family is active in the religion, they will try to convert you as well.
Make no mistake, Jehovah's witness theology is contrary to the Bible. Even though they will initially try to make themselves look Christian, they do not believe Biblical theology. If you want some information on how Christianity and Jehovah's witnesses are different, please visit: http://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses
You will be in my prayers as you work through this. In closing here are a couple of things to consider.
1. You and your boyfriend need to have unity in faith.
2. Jehovah's witnesses teach doctrine different that the Bible even though they like to quote the Bible a lot. (We could talk further about this if you like.)
3. Both of you need to meet with your pastor about this
4. Pray and seek what God wants for your relationship
5. Beware of the watchtower conversion tactics.
6. Two more resources that I would recommend that you and your boyfriend look at: http://4jehovah.org/http://www.evidenceministries.org/
Please write back if you want to talk further. One final thing, you are precious to God and he wants you to be in a relationship where you can be in agreement and grow in faith. God wants you and your boyfriend to be united in faith. As far as the future goes, marriage and parenthood has it's own stress and you must have a common faith in order to be happy in the long term.

Expertise

One of the most harmful beliefs of the Watchtower is their false view of Jesus. Biblically, Jesus Christ is God and has always been equal with the Father. (John 1) Jesus Christ voluntarily limited himself when he came to earth in the form of a man to die for our sins. His bodily resurrection was proof that He concurred sin once and for all. Don't be deceived by the Watchtower that believes that Jesus was a created angel who do not have a bodily resurrection.
With that being said, I am familiar with Watchtower doctrine and I am happy to look at how this doctrine lines up with the Bible. I am not into taking out one verse here and there but I believe that all Scripture must be interpreted in context. Some may say for example that the trinity is pagan in origin and that it was made up in the 4th century. (There is simply no evidence for this.) The Bible clearly reveals that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit are 100% God. Phil 1:2, John 1:1, 14, Col 2:9, Acts 5:3-4.
If the watchtower is "God's visible organization", then why does the organization lie so much? Want documented proof of their deception, visit: http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.php
I would be happly to answer any questions or to agree with you in prayer.

Experience

I am a Bible believing Christian and have been for 36 years. I have relatives who are Jehovah's witnesses so I know about the stress on families that this can cause.

OrganizationsI am actively involved in my church where I lead a Bible study and am involved in the sound tech crew.

Education/CredentialsSorry for using "I" so much. My undergraduate degree is in Theology and I have a Masters in Educational leadership.